U.S. patent application number 10/362702 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-02 for transparent panel for a display device and mobile radio device provided with such a panel.
Invention is credited to Bischof, Stefan, Schrack, Cornelia.
Application Number | 20030184894 10/362702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7653767 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030184894 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bischof, Stefan ; et
al. |
October 2, 2003 |
Transparent panel for a display device and mobile radio device
provided with such a panel
Abstract
The invention relates to a transparent panel (TS) for a display
device (DP), especially for a mobile radio device (CP). The back of
said panel is provided with one or more three-dimensional
elevations and/or indentations in such a way that they are readable
on the front (VS) of the panel as symbols.
Inventors: |
Bischof, Stefan; (Nersingen,
DE) ; Schrack, Cornelia; (Ulm, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BELL, BOYD & LLOYD, LLC
P. O. BOX 1135
CHICAGO
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
7653767 |
Appl. No.: |
10/362702 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
August 14, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE01/03111 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
359/894 ;
359/609 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133374 20210101;
H04M 1/0266 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/894 ;
359/609 |
International
Class: |
G02B 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 25, 2000 |
DE |
100 41 786.8 |
Claims
1. A transparent panel (TS) for a display device (DP), one or more
symbols being provided on the rear side (RS) of the panel by means
of one or more three-dimensional elevations (3DLR*) and/or
depressions (3DLR) in such a way that the symbols are readable on
the front side (VS) of the panel.
2. The transparent panel characterized by the use as a display
panel of a mobile radio device, in particular a mobile radio
telephone.
3. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the display device is formed by an LCD
display (DP).
4. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the three-dimensional elevations and/or
depressions (3DLR*, 3DLR) are provided inside that subregion of the
rear side (RS) that is situated outside the exposed display window
(AF) of the panel.
5. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the three-dimensional elevations and/or
depressions (3DLR*, 3DLR) are provided in that subregion of the
rear side (RS) that is coated with at least one color layer
(CO).
6. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the front side (VS) of the panel has a
substantially plane surface.
7. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that an optically transparent plastic material, in
particular Plexiglas, is used for the panel.
8. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the three-dimensional elevations and/or
depressions are introduced into the rear side (RS) in such a way
that they form letters that are arranged in a mirror-inverted
fashion and produce lettering that can be read from the front side
(VS).
9. The transparent panel as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that at least one logo and/or other character is
selected as symbol.
10. A mobile radio device (CP) having a display device DP that is
covered by at least one transparent panel (TS) as claimed in one of
the preceding claims.
11. The mobile radio device as claimed in claim 10, characterized
in that the panel (TS) has at least one coating (CO) on its rear
side (RS) along at least one subsection of its edge region, and in
that the one or more three-dimensional elevations and/or
depressions (3DLR*, 3DLR) are situated in this edge region.
Description
[0001] Electric and/or optical devices such as, for example, mobile
radio devices, in particular cellular telephones (="mobiles") are
usually printed on their housing surface in the region of their
display device with graphic characters such as, for example,
manufacturer's names, type designation, etc., logos, motifs or
other symbols, and are therefore externally marked. In the
practical use of, for example, mobile radio devices, their symbols
thus printed on can, however, be entirely or partially rubbed off,
scratched, soiled or have their original appearance impaired in
some other way. In particular, such phenomena of wear and traces of
use can excessively spoil the overall optical impression, that is
to say the original design of the respective mobile radio device
considered overall.
[0002] It is the object of the invention to indicate a way in which
an identification with one or more symbols can be provided for a
display device in a simple and reliable way. This object is
achieved with the aid of the features of claim 1.
[0003] A largely permanent identification is ensured owing to the
fact that one or more symbols are provided on the rear side of
transparent panel for the display device by means of one or more
three-dimensional elevations and/or depressions. Since the symbols
are located on the rear side of the transparent panel, they are
prevented from being worn, soiled, scratched or otherwise impaired.
Moreover, this way of providing the symbols saves space, and this
is advantageous particularly in the case of mobile radio devices,
particularly mobile cellular telephones. The point is that there is
no longer any need to print the housing in order to identify, for
example, the respective mobile radio device. Furthermore, the one
or more symbols in the form of one or more three-dimensional
elevations and/or depressions on the rear side of the transparent
panel convey to the viewer on the viewing side, that is to say
front side of the transparent panel, an optically appealing,
three-dimensional effect that additionally improves the design.
[0004] The invention further relates to a mobile radio device
having a display device that is covered by at least one panel
according to the invention.
[0005] Other developments of the inventions are reproduced in the
subclaims.
[0006] The invention and its developments are explained in more
detail below with the aid of drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic of the display
device of a mobile radio device having a first exemplary embodiment
of a transparent panel according to the invention, and
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic of the panel of FIG. 1
from the front, that is to say viewed from its viewing side.
Elements having the same function and mode of operation are
provided with the same reference symbols in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an enlarged cross-sectional schematic of an
exemplary embodiment of a transparent panel according to the
invention for the display device DP of a mobile radio device CP, in
particular a mobile cellular telephone. The transparent panel is
denoted by TS in this case. The latter is viewed in FIG. 2
schematically and in an enlarged fashion substantially in plan view
from the front, that is to say illustrated from its viewing side.
The cross sectional image of FIG. 1 results in this case from
viewing perpendicular to the positioning plane of the panel TS of
FIG. 2 along the line of section A, A' that is drawn in with dots
and dashes in FIG. 2, and runs transversely, in particular,
perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the mobile radio device
CP. The contours of the housing of the mobile radio device CP are
also indicated in this case in FIG. 2 in a detail additionally
provided with dots and dashes. The control/computing unit CPU of
the mobile radio device CP is also drawn in with dots and dashes in
FIG. 1. It controls the display device DP via a data line SL that
is likewise drawn in with dots and dashes.
[0010] In FIG. 1, the transparent panel TS is seated as a type of
cover in the region of the outer surface of the housing GH. In this
case, it covers a chamber or cutout KA in the interior of the
housing GH from the outside. A display device DP is accommodated in
this chamber KA. It is preferred to select as display device a
so-called liquid crystal display (LCD display) such as is normally
used for mobile radio devices, in particular mobiles. The
transparent panel TS is assigned in this case to the display device
DP in such a way that, when viewed inward from the outside it is
seated in the housing GH in front of the display device DP and
covers the latter from the outside. Viewed relative to one another,
the panel TS and the display DP are expediently positioned in such
a way that the display field AF (compare FIG. 2) of the display
device DP situated below it in the housing GH is visible to a
viewer from the outside, that is to say remains visually readable.
With its inside, the panel TS rests at its edge zones RZ1, RZ2 on
correspondingly constructed shoulders HA1, HA2 of the housing GH
and is fixed there mechanically. This mechanical fixing can be
performed, for example, with the aid of an adhesive. It can equally
be expedient for the panel TS to be fixed in the housing by means
of mechanical latching or a self-closed fit or in some other way.
In FIG. 1, the shoulders HA1, HA2 for bearing the edge zones RZ1,
RZ2 of the panel TS are sunk by comparison with the remaining outer
surface AO of the housing GH into the interior thereof. By
comparison with the otherwise largely plane outer surface AO of the
housing GH, the shoulders or bearing projections HA1, HA2 are
expediently formed into the interior of the housing GH in a fashion
depressed with reference to the otherwise largely plane outer
surface AO of said housing GH in such a way that after it has been
fitted into the housing GH the planel BL forms a largely flat plane
with its remaining outer surface. Expressed in other words, this
means that the panel TS is preferably fitted into the housing GH in
such a way that its outer contour forms an approximately flush
straight line with the outer contour AO of the housing GH when
viewed in cross section. For this purpose the panel TS is
preferably of substantially rectangular construction when viewed in
cross section. If appropriate, as in the case of the exemplary
embodiment according to FIG. 1, when viewed from the inside toward
the outside, it can also have an outer surface cambered outwards in
a slightly concave fashion.
[0011] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the height of the
shoulders or bearing projections HA1, HA2 is selected with
reference to the base of the chamber KA in the housing GH in such a
way that a free space or gap SP remains between the display device
DP and the inner side RS of the panel TS. It is thereby
advantageously possible for panels of different thickness and/or
displays dimensioned with different thicknesses to be acceptably
inserted into the chamber KA of the housing GH.
[0012] It is expedient to select a transparent plastic, in
particular Plexiglas, for the transparent panel TS. In this way,
the panel TS seals off the chamber KA with the internal display
device DP from the outside in a largely hermetic fashion. The
interior of the housing GH is therefore largely protected against
external mechanical stresses, moisture, dust, dirt and other
external environmental influences. At the same time, on the basis
of its optical transparency the panel ensures that the display
field of the display device DP remains visible and therefore
readable to a user.
[0013] In FIG. 1, the edge zone region of the panel TS is coated
with at least one colored layer CO from its inner side, that is to
say rear side RS. In the present exemplary embodiment, the panel TS
is of approximately rectangular construction in accordance with
FIG. 2 when seen in plan view. The edge coating CO covers the panel
BL on its rear side RS facing the chamber KA in such a way that a
substantially rectangular display window AF results that remains
free from the coating CO and is optically transparent. Thus, the
actual display device DP remains visible from outside to an
operator through this display window AF. In this case, the coating
CO surrounds the display window AF of the panel TS along the four
sides thereof as a substantially rectangular frame or edge. The
coating CO is expediently formed by at least one colored layer in
such a way that the panel TS is rendered substantially more opaque
optically at its four outer edges, that is to say less transparent
to light than in the display field AF. The result is that the
display field AF of the display device DP is more neatly mounted.
The frame-shaped mount of the display field AF is preferably
constructed by the rear coating CO of the panel TS in such a way
that only the display field of the display device DP is visible to
the viewer from outside, whereas other components, accommodated in
the housing GH, of the mobile radio device CP remain largely
invisible to the viewer when viewed from outside. The edge width of
the rear coating CO of the panel TS is expediently designed in such
a way that at least the bearing projections HA1, HA2 are covered
when viewed from outside. As a result, for example, adhesive with
the aid of which the panel TS is fixed on the holders or
projections HA1, HA2 is visually subdued or not visible at all from
outside. Consequently, the internal coating CO provides a
substantially rectangular framing of the panel TS that exposes a
substantially rectangular, transparent viewing window onto the
internal display DP for the viewer when viewed from outside.
[0014] The internal coating CO can preferably be produced by
deposition, painting, by metallization, spraying or by printing in
some other way. It is preferable for at least one colored layer to
be applied for the rear coating. Bright colored, in particular
silver colored pigments are preferably used for the colored layer.
The coating the rear side RS of the panel TS with at least one
colored layer can be carried out, in particular, with the aid of
the so-called IMD (in mold decoration) method. In this case, there
is laid in the mold as early as during the production of the panel
TS a color-coated foil starting from which the color pigments are
transferred onto the panel material by being pressed in whilst
still in the hot state, and are fixed there.
[0015] In order now to identify the mobile radio device CP such as,
for example, to render it distinguishable from the mobile radio
devices of other manufacturers, and/or to give it a unique design,
one or more three-dimensional depressions 3DLR are shaped in or
recessed (viewed from inside outward) on the rear side RS of the
panel TS in the direction of the outer surface, that is to say
front side VS of the panel TS as one or more symbols. These
depressions 3DLR are preferably provided in this case in the region
of at least one of the edge zones of the panel TS. They are
preferably situated inside the coated zone CO. In the present
exemplary embodiment, the depressions 3DLR are embossed or shaped
into the rear surface of the panel TS in such a way that the
lettering "Siemens" results in accordance with FIG. 2 when viewed
from the front side VS. Thus, if in general terms letters are
selected as symbols, it is expedient for them to be introduced in a
mirror-inverted fashion into the rear side RS of the panel TS such
that they can be read as lettering from outside by a viewer on the
viewing side or front side VS of the panel TS. Because one or more
symbols are shaped into the rear surface RS of the panel TS by one
or more three-dimensional depressions 3DLR, wear, scratching,
soiling or any other mechanical, chemical and/or thermal impairment
of this identification are advantageously largely avoided. In
particular, in the case of mobile radio devices, preferably mobiles
or mobile cellular telephones, that are held in the hand, the
possibility of partial or complete detachment of the identifiers
because of the sweat from a hand is largely avoided. Since the
outer surface, that is to say the front side VS of the panel TS is
largely of smooth design, deposits of dirt such as could occur, for
example, in the depressions of a front-side, three-dimensional
symbol or identifier, are largely avoided. Because the symbols are
formed by three-dimensional depressions, owing to the shading
effect of the edges of the depressions 3DLR there is the additional
advantage that when viewed from the front side VS the character
image is also additionally configured or designed appealingly in
optical terms. Besides, owing to the largely smooth surface VS and
the depth effect from the rear depressions 3DLR, the formation of
shadows in the edges of the depressions 3DLR has a better effect,
than three-dimensional depressions or elevations on the front
side.
[0016] It is thereby possible with the aid of one or more
three-dimensional depressions of appropriate shape to provide on
the inner surface RS, facing the display device DP, of the panel TS
symbols or characters that are largely resistant to wear and
protected against external influences such as dirt, moisture,
sweats on a hand, etc. Moreover, it is possible in conjunction with
viewing from the front side VS simultaneously to achieve a
three-dimensional effect of the symbols that is optically appealing
with regard to the design. With the aid of the depressions 3DLR on
the rear side RS of the panel TS, in addition or independently of
letter characters, it is also possible, if appropriate, to image
one or more logos, motifs or other identifiers.
[0017] If appropriate, it can also be expedient in addition or
independently of depressions such as 3DLR on the rear side RS of
the panel TS, for example, to provide one or more elevations there.
Such elevations, which project inward into the chamber interior
from the inner side RS of the panel TS in the direction of the
display device DP, are drawn in additionally with dots and dashes
in FIG. 1 and provided with the reference symbol 3DLR*. An
appropriate three-dimensional effect of symbols when viewed from
the front side VS can also be achieved by means of such elevations
projecting inward toward the chamber KA. Since these
three-dimensional elevations are located on the inner side of the
panel TS, this identification is largely permanently maintained.
Scratches, wear, soiling or other forms of impairment by external
environmental influences are therefore largely avoided.
[0018] In addition to the particularly preferred use in the case of
display devices of user terminals in cellular mobile radio systems
such as, for example, those using the GSM or UMTS standard, the
transparent panel according to the invention can also
advantageously be used in other electrical and/or optical equipment
having visual display devices.
* * * * *